Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of BritaineHolinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles (1 of 6): The Description of Britaine
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- To 1485; Great Britain -- History -- Tudors, 1485-1603
There are in Anglesei many townes and villages, whose names as yet I
cannot orderlie atteine vnto: wherefore I will content my selfe with the
rehearsall of so many as we viewed in sailing about the coasts, and
otherwise heard report of by such as I haue talked withall. Beginning
therefore at the mouth of the Gefni (which riseth at northeast aboue
Gefni or Geuenni, 20. miles at the least into the land) we passed first
by Hundwyn, then by Newborow, Port-Hayton, Beaumarrais, Penmon, Elian,
Almwoch, Burric (whereby runneth a rill into a creeke) Cornew, Holihed
(standing in the promontorie) Gwifen, Aberfraw, and Cair Cadwalader, of
all which, the two latter stand as it were in a nuke betweene the
Geuenni water, and the Fraw, wherevpon Aberfraw is situate. Within the
Iland we heard onelie of Gefni afore mentioned, of Gristial standing
vpon the same water, of Tefri, of Lanerchimedh, Lachtenfarwy and
Bodedrin, but of all these the cheefe is now Beaumarais, which was
builded sometime by king Edward the first, and therewithall a strong
castell about the yeare 1295. to kéepe that land in quiet. There are
also as Leland saith 31. parish-churches beside 69. chappels, that is, a
hundreth in all. But héerof I can saie little, for lacke of iust
instruction. In time past, the people of this Ile vsed not to seuerall
their grounds, but now they dig stonie hillocks, and with the stones
thereof they make rude walles, much like to those of Deuonshire, sith
they want hedge bote, fire bote, and house bote, or (to saie at one
word) timber, bushes and trees. As for wine, it is so plentifull and
good cheape there most commonlie as in London, through the great
recourse of merchants from France, Spaine, and Italie vnto the aforesaid
Iland. The flesh likewise of such cattell as is bred there, wherof we
haue store yearelie brought vnto Cole faire in Essex is most delicate,
by reason of their excellent pasture, and so much was it esteemed by the
Romans in time past, that Columella did not onelie commend and preferre
them before those of Liguria, but the emperours themselues being neere
hand also caused their prouision to be made for nete out of Anglesei, to
feed vpon at their owne tables as the most excellent beefe. It taketh
now the name of Angles and Ei, which is to meane the Ile of Englismen,
bicause they wan it in the Conquerors time, vnder the leading of Hugh
earle of Chester, and Hugh of Shrewesburie. Howbeit they recouered it
againe in the time of William Rufus, when they spoiled the citie of
Glocester, ransacked Shrewesburie, and returned home with great bootie
and pillage, in which voiage also they were holpen greatlie by the
Irishmen, who after thrée yeares ioined with them againe, and slue the
earle of Shrewesburie (which then liued) with great crueltie. The
Welshmen call it Tiremone and Mon, and herein likewise is a promontorie
[Sidenote: Holie head, or Cair kiby.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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